Houhai

Houhai, the area in central Beijing around the lake of the same name, has gained a reputation among travelers and expats as the best place in the city to grab a drink with a view over the water. Which may sound a bit like faint praise, since there really aren't too many lakes where the surrounding nightlife and cuisine are highlighted. Still, there is the appeal of putting your feet up ruminating over a few drinks by the lake.

Then again, the Houhai neighborhood is a bit on the expensive side, leading a more discriminant traveler east into a collection of hutongs that are home to a surprising number of bars of good quality. Try Salud on Nanluogu Xiang or Modernista on Baochao Hutong for stellar live jams, while electronica is big at Dada. Then again, you may enjoy putting your . It's the best option of its kind in Beijing.